The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-21
" P. P. C"
Happy Result Of Miss Fanny's
Interpretation.

The village of Blue Posts. in the
northern part of the State of New York,
was Almost as primitive in the summer
of 1886 as it was fifty years before. The
march of civilization and progress
seemed TO have gone Ly it about twenty
miles on either side, for that was about
the distance to any railroad. Blue Posts
Is not on the road to anywhere or from
anywhere, and its one grass-grOwn and
barely discernible highway to the near
sst town is rarely travelled by any thing
but 4 farmers wagon, which in summer
or autumn conveyed spare produce to
market There was, however, very
little of this traffic. for Blue Posts con-
sumed nearly all it raised. Its wheat
went regularly to the old-fashioned
windmill, where it was converted into
a -four which, if somewhat coarse. was
believed by the natives to possess twice
the nutriment of any ground by steam
and purified by some ncw-fangled pro-
cess. The wool and the flax were still
spun and woven by hand, and thrifty
housewives prided themselves Oh their
skill with the wheel and loom and
knitting-needles. Little was brought
into Blue Posts from the outside world
save occasional letters, books and
stationery, and for these the demand
was so limited that the postmiStress
sou, who twice week rode on a slow
and venerable pony to get the mail
from Town, was able TO bring all
that was needed, in addition to the
usual quantum of post-office matter
generally about five letters and seven
newspapers. The journey toT--town
WAS two days affair, for the pony had
TO be stabbed there over night, his aged
and <notted limbs being unequal TO
more than a single trip in twenty.four
hours
Blue Posts boasted population of
two hundred and fifty souls, including
one old Indian squaw, concerning
whose possession of that super-mun-
dane essence many people have grave
doubts. There were dark rumors that
she was a witch. and many believed in
her powers of forecasting the future.
None knew her age, but her face looked
like pathway on which time had left
Ats tracks SO deeply and so closely that
it seemed well-nigh impossible to
squeeze in another seam or wrinkle.
Tradition had it that Blue Posts had
grown up around her, and she en-
couraged the idea tnat IT'S prosperity
depended upon her continued existence
an idea which she made take the
practical form of lcvying contributions
of food and clothing.
A stranger rarely found his way
to Blue Posts, and when he did he
was generally almost as much an
object of fear as wonder. He was
nearly ALWAYS peddler or tramp,
and in either case his advent was the
signal for the barring Of shutters and
the locking of doorS-precautions
which ut other times were rarely taken.
The masculine gender has been Gsed in
referring TO the stranger, for one OF
the softer sex had only once penetrated
there in the five years preceding the
date of which 1 am writing. and she
had come by mistake, her proper desti-
nation being Painted Posts. 1t seemed
that she had lost her written directions,
and remembered only that she wanted
tn go to some posts. When she arrived
she was pennilesS, and a subscription
had TO be raised in order to get rid OF
her.
The population of Blue Posts re,
rlained for years at about the figures
previously given, for the natural in,
crease was offset by the departure from
time to time of adventurous youths who
felt their energies cramped by its mar
IOw limits. Occasionally one of these
would come back for brief visit, bear.
ing with him the marks of city culture
that won admiration from the girls. and
excited the envy or contempt of the
young men. But with all its exclusion
from the outer world, Blue Posts wa,
not as ignorant or boorish as might b.
imagined. 1t boasted school
ma am" who had once taught il
Cohoes, and was never tired of descant
ing on the tremendous excitement anC
wonderful glut of amusement that towr
afforded; book club existed among tn,
girls. and if they did not get all tn,
latest novels, they managed to secure
a supply of sounder literature than the
production of ''Ouida, THE Duchess, >
or other sensational authors.
Such being the condition of Blu,
Posts on the 10Th of June. 1886, it i
easy to imagine the agitation int
which its inhabitants We're thrown
when the report few rapidly from
house to house that on the previous
night a stranger had arrived. and hat
secured board at Thompson's farm ara
given out his intention of staying som,
time. The duration he had fixet
varied, according to the relators. from
Il week to two years, but al
agreed that he was young, good
looking, and, though he carries
= pack, not a peddler. VIII,
he had gone to Thompson's WAS un
known, and the proprietor of ever
other decent house said the strange
had made big mistake, and would b
sorry before the hay was in. The ex
cuses made TO eail at Thompson's ths
morning were numerous and ingeni
Gus, but the callers found little reward
The stranger had risen early, and takin
a lunch with him, had gone off for
davis sketching. All that was learne